[Survey] How to make it easier for 1st-time players of the genre?

#1

I’m not talking about people that’s played other Werewolf/Mafia games, I’m talking about someone COMPLETELY new to the genre:

We have some issues where new players completely skip the “Learn to Play” buttons (Class Cards + Guide), play the game, and not know what to do. While some players will keep playing to learn more, others may quit being super confused (and still not look at the guide/class cards :stuck_out_tongue: ). What can we do to help the new user experience?

If you were completely new to the genre, which of these methods of learning (if we were to “throw it in your face” for the first time playing) would be USEFUL, while not being ANNOYING? There’s definitely a fine-line. We want to educate new players to “at least know the basics” before jumping in so they aren’t overwhelmed.

After all, 35+ classes and meta tactics while learning the game can be both intimidating and confusing for a new player! We want to force some type of tutorial (either a 1-click “want to play?” or something guided), but how far should we go?

  • First-time entering lobby, popup “Learn to Play?” option
  • When anyone enters a room, 1st line of chat says “Learn to Play while waiting (top-right)” reminder
  • First-time entering lobby, force a guided tutorial to the “Learn to Play” buttons
  • Show one-time, guided popups PER-CLASS, in-game.
  • Offer an offline tutorial of an “ideal game” as a simple class.
  • Other…? Comment below, if you check this

0 voters

^ Check as many as you believe you’d actually be encouraged to do without finding it annoying.

#2

in my opinion, as long as it isn’t forced and one time, it isn’t annoying. the guided popup for each class might start to be annoying once you already played the game with a few roles, tho

1 Like
#3

An offline tutorial would be cool. what you don’t want to do is have a lot of information in the tutorial because people really would find it hard to get into when there’s a lot to read. Keep it simple and easy.

1 Like
#4

I would rather a optional guided tutorial

#5

I agree. Optional tutorials are good. (On initial login perhaps)
However, if someone statistically hasn’t played for a certain amount of time, or hasn’t played before then make it more recommended perhaps.

I personally think that a button which links to guides would be great too as then it allows people who aren’t confident, even if they don’t want a full on tutorial, to clarify some things.

For example player 1 has not played for a few weeks -> Recommended tutorial (Still optional) pops up
Player 2 has not played before
-> Recommended tutorial (Still optional) pops up
Player 3 is experienced and has played recently
-> Tutorial pops up

Tutorial shows roles, buttons linked to the guides, different game modes (Explains differences)

Even include links to the forums and discord on the front page perhaps so that players know what’s available?

#6

Hmm how about this:

  1. Initially a player is given the option to complete a tutorial.
    2.If they refuse, and some of the statistics show lacking gameplay for the first 10 games, then they are reminded of the tutorial.
  2. If they refuse again and their statistics for 30 games are bad, or if they initially refused and their first 10 games gave horrible statistics, then the tutorial is being forced upon them before they can continue playing.
#7

how do you determine bad gameplay from just losing?

#8

I voted for Other.

Give gold rewards for reviewing optional tutorials. Give them a 1 time notification of the existence of these rewarded tutorials. That incentive will not only begin the “need for greed” with new players, but also make them feel good about learning the game as well.

3 Likes
#9

You should put a guide on gamethrowing in at the same time as atm there are some community misconceptions as to what constitutes it.

#10

I would have the guide auto open on first launch in addition to any other suggestions you use.

#11

Please do not[quote=“Sketch, post:8, topic:2149”]
Give gold rewards for reviewing optional tutorials. Give them a 1 time notification of the existence of these rewarded tutorials. That incentive will not only begin the “need for greed” with new players, but also make them feel good about learning the game as well.
[/quote]

This is a good idea for the future when we add achievements

2 Likes
#12

FTFY.

#13

News reporter voiceHere live at the I42 forum. They head dev did a funny thing. Lets go talk to him right now. Good job XBlade. You did a funny mess up. How does it feel?.

#14

I think this goes without saying, but

do not have pop-up achievements in game

Sincerely,

Every former ToS player

3 Likes
#15

Don’t have achievements in game, except for ones that encourage not game throwing.

“Win a game as a convertible class without being converted.”
“Survive to the end of the game as a convertible class without being converted.”

Other achievements can either reveal otherwise hidden information in the game, or encourage game throw via conversion.

#16

yea I was a medium in town of salem and used my talk to dead power on a serial killer. so a 2nd dead medium used there talk to dead on the jailor happy times

#17

Here are the things it took me a while to see as a new player

  1. You could get more info about your class by clicking on your portrait
  2. First game I played I got jailed first time and got claim! typed at me . I had no idea what that meant and no idea that the guy could just kill me if he wanted to , and no idea that as a BD I could be honest with the prince and that if I was evil I should have a convincing lie prepared.
  3. The importance of my journal was lost on me for the first few games and some people call it a will ( I think , unless this is something different, I suspect this might be a Town of Salem thing )
    4 . Acronyms : As a fluid community game their are a lot of acronym’s used and a list of those would be useful . Older players forget that newbies have no idea that when a sherrif says that a player was NS what.

I guess you learn these things as you go a long when you quickly get lynched for not claiming to a psy etc but guidance on how not to look suspicious when you have nothing to hide .

Loading screen Tips !!! loading screens are a great place for Tips , people will read your tips if you put them on the loading screen as they cant be doing anything more fun whilst the game is loading . Some people will skip tutorials to get to the “fun stuff” .

What would be a really cool loading screen would be one that would show your class and class abilities as soon as they are determined .

Not sure at what stage the game knows what class you are but if its determined pre loading screen and your loading screen tells you your class and abilities that would really give people a chance to familiarise themselves with the roles.

3 Likes
#18

newarkinvaders point about being confused in Jail stands very true. Since release I’ve been Prince a few times and spent most of my nights explaining to newer players what is going on.

Maybe have a separate page or paragraph in the intoductory guide about the Prince?

#19

HEY! Wb

1 Like
#20

I think the first line in the chat says: Press tab for more info about your class.

That’s the basics of the genre tbh :stuck_out_tongue: I guess it could be added though.

I will agree on that point actually (and yes it is, let’s just call it journal since this ain’t ToS)

This might help :wink:
http://tol.wikia.com/wiki/Mid-Game_Reference

I’ll give this a thumbs up. :+1:

That used to be in the game, but it was pretty bad for streamers :stuck_out_tongue: